Fuel-feeding device for straw-burning kilns and furnaces.



No. 796,887. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905,

c. ZIMMERMAN. FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR STRAW BURNING KILNS AND FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29, 1904.

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FUEL FEEDING DEVICE FOR STRA-W BURNING KILNS AND FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASPER ZIMMERMAN, OF HAZEL, SOUTH DAKOTA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed September 29, 1904. Serial No. 226,503.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER ZIMMERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hazel, in the county of Hamlin and State of South Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-FeedingDevices for Straw-Burning Kilns and Furnaces; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for feeding straw,cornstalks, hay, sage-brush, and material of like nature used as fuel tothe fire-chambers of brick and other kilns and to furnaces in which fuelof this character is employed.

The invention has for its object the provision of a simple andinexpensive apparatus so constructed and arranged relative to the kilnor furnace as to insure a uniform supply of fuel being supplied to thefire at all times and at the same time to cause a perfect combustion.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the sameconsists in the peculiar construction of the apparatus and in itsarrangement relative to the combustionchamber of a kiln or furnace, allas will be more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanyingdrawings, and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which drawings similar letters of referenceindicate the same parts throughout the several views, and in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, the same being shown asapplied to a brick-kiln. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3is an enlarged detail in perspective of a portion of one of the endlesschains, showing one form of tine employed. Fig. 4 is a like View showinga modified form of tine. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the tine shown inFig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of anotherslightly-modified form of tine.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings byletter, Adesignates a kiln, which may be of any of the well-known forms such asare adapted for use in burning brick, baking pottery, &c., and Which areprovided with combustion-chambers extending in lines ,bers of the kilnfrom front to rear.

beneath or through the lower portion of the structure.

B B are the upright posts or supports, and C C portions of a frameworkstructure which iserected over the kiln. This framework may beconstructed of iron pipes, as shown, or may be of any other material andof such form as may be found to be best adapted to the purpose.

A driving-shaft D, driven from any source of power, is mounted insuitable bearings 61 on the uprights B B of the frame, and to said shaftare keyed sprocket-wheels E E, spaced apart, as shown clearly in Fig. 1of the draw ings. A second set of sprocket-wheels (designated in thedrawingsby letter E is mounted upon a shaft E near the openings into thekilns. Sprocket-wheels F F are journaled loosely upon a shaft G, whichis positioned parallel to the shaft D, but slightly above the same, andsimilar sprocket-wheels H H are loosely journaled upon a shaft H, Whilethe sprocketwheels I I are similarly mounted upon the shafts I. It willbe observed upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the wheelsv Eand I are positioned, respectively, near the front and rear faces of thekiln and adjacent to the openings therein. Endless sprocket-chainsJJpass about said pulleys in the manner disclosed in the drawings, andsaid chains carry at intervals tines or fingers K K, which may be of anylength or shape found best adapted for the purpose of drawing fuel intothe openings of the kilns. It will be noted that the sprocket-chains inpassing around the several pulleys will pass longitudinally through thecombustion-chambers of the kilns.

In use rotary motion is imparted to the driving-shaft D and thesprocket-chains J are caused to travel through the combustion-cham-Straw, cornstalks, hay, or other material used as fuel which is throwninto contact with the chains will be caught by the tines upon the chainsand carried into the combustion-chambers and will be carried slowlythrough the said chambers, the speed being governed by the rate ofrotation imparted to the driving-shaft D, and which should be soregulated as to allow the burning fuel to be fully consumed within thechamber. By this method of supplying straw or other material of likenature to the fire a uniform and perfect combustion is insured and thegreatest possible degree of heat from a given quantity of fuel isinsured.

By the provision of the apparatus shown and described it will beobserved that straw of various kinds or grain may be utilized as a cheapand efficient fuel, and which may be caught by the tines and drawnthrough the combustion-chamber without leaving any residue of ashes uponthe floor of the chamber, and the speed at which it is desired to feedthe fuel may be regulated according to the consistency of the straw.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim to be new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A kiln or furnace having combustion-chambers arranged parallel to oneanother and extending through the kiln, a framework positioned about thekiln and having parallel and horizontally-disposed tubular portions,sprocket-wheels loosely journaled upon said tubular portions,sprocket-chains mounted upon said sprocket-wheels and adapted to travelover the top of the kiln and through the combustion-chambers, forkedtines secured to said chains at intervals and at right angles theretoand adapted to draw fuel through said combustion-chambers, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

(JASPER ZIMMERM AN.

Witnesses:

J. F. HALL, EZRA ADAMS.

